DIGITAL makes new investments in healthcare AI

VANCOUVER – DIGITAL, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, this week announced an investment of over $53 million in 11 different AI-enabled projects across the country’s leading industries. These investments are set to leverage an additional $106 million in partner contributions.

“AI is a cornerstone of improved productivity, service delivery, and economic success for companies and citizens,” said Sue Paish (pictured), CEO of DIGITAL. “By uniting industry leaders, innovators and academic partners, and focusing on commercialization, talent development and AI adoption frameworks, we’re solving today’s challenges and building the environment to accelerate breakthrough innovation that keeps Canada at the cutting-edge of global AI innovation.”

Examples of investments in new healthcare technologies and collaborations include:

• Led by Satisfai Health, this consortium is accelerating the development of AI-driven software that conducts automated measurements of intestinal ultrasound images (IUS) as a less invasive, point-of-care, and less expensive solution than colonoscopies and other traditional radiological imaging to monitor and treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition which currently impacts over 320,000 Canadians.
• Led by Medtronic Canada, this consortium is integrating multiple AI-driven technologies to prevent and manage pressure injuries (PIs), also known as bedsores or pressure sores, which currently affect 26% of patients across Canada and degrade quality of life for patients often already experiencing severe illness or debility at their most vulnerable times, while requiring costly and long hospitalizations to address.
• Led by Calabrio Canada, this consortium is developing an AI-driven platform to manage both virtual and human agents for telemedicine and patient contact centers, enabling positive patient experiences and addressing Canada’s increasing care worker shortage with projections of over 100,000 nurses by 2030.
• Led by Fluid AI, this consortium is developing an AI-powered postoperative patient management platform that accurately assesses the risk of postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leaks and respiratory depression following general and gastrointestinal (GI) surgeries. These insights will be used to assist surgeons in making quicker and more informed decisions regarding patient care, with earlier interventions providing potential for patients to go home sooner and healthier.
• Led by Expeflow, this consortium is developing AI agents that will work alongside mental health professionals automating time-consuming administrative tasks, protecting patient data and freeing up valuable clinician time.

Through strategic collaborations, DIGITAL’s co-investments of over $200 million have spurred over $300 million of new investment from private industry and other partners, bringing their total investment in Canadian digital and AI solutions to over $500 million and advanced the development of over 220 AI-related products and services, 130 of which are already in the market.

About DIGITAL
DIGITAL is Canada’s leader in accelerating the development and commercialization of Canadian-made digital technologies that address some of the most pressing needs across our economy and society. DIGITAL’s model of collaborative innovation and co-investment advances the success of Canadian businesses through the development, adoption and commercialization of Canadian-made technologies while also growing a workforce that is skilled to fill the jobs of a growing digital economy. DIGITAL brings together businesses, academia, community and government agencies to solve some of industry and society’s biggest challenges – better and faster than any single organization can do on its own. Through the powerful model that combines cross-sector collaboration, Canadian IP creation and results-based co-investment, we unlock the potential of Canadian industry to lead and succeed in the digital world. For more information, visit digitalsupercluster.ca.